43 West Palm Beach Fishing Club Historic Recognition - continued from pg. 1 WPB Fishing Club Receives Official Historic Marker year member, provided substantial input and exhaustive editorial review throughout the application process.  Our sincere thanks to Ms. Amanda Herrick who completed early research, which helped create a solid foundation for our application.  The club also owes a debt of thanks to local architect Rick Gonzalez of REG Architects who provided critical input early on in the process. We are very thankful for the cooperative support and guidance we have received from the city’s Historic Preservation Planner, Friederike Mittner. Historic consultant Bonnie Dearborn managed the daunting task of actually completing the lengthy NRHP application (and later our Historic Marker application). She ably navigated our application through the many lay- ers of required reviews and approvals.  Her expertise was invaluable.   The WPBFC Board of Directors who fully supported the effort should be credited with helping see this important initiative through completion.  It is on their watch that such a significant accomplishment has occurred.  Following approval from the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, an official State Historic Marker for the WPBFC has been placed along Fifth Street in the club’s front yard. “The City of West Palm Beach has a treasure in this building and even more so in the history and mission of the Club, as evidenced by its rich interior.  Most people are probably not aware of the amazing conservation and civic endeavors the Club has undertaken.  I’m excited that this marker will give passerby’s a glimpse of this history and hopefully inspire them to explore the Club,” said Friederike Mittner, City of West Palm Beach Historic Preservation Planner. “Be- ing on the National Register Review Board of the Florida Historic Commission for the past 10 years, I have never encountered such a small, relatively simple, historic build- ing with so much local history. Under the category of com- munity services in the fishing industry, so vital to locals and visitors, the West Palm Beach Fishing Club has been, and will continue to be, for many decades the place of fond memories in South Florida fishing tales,” commented Rick Gonzalez, President REG Architects. Florida Atlantic University graduate student Krystyna Powell has been awarded the Palm Beach County Fish- ing Foundation’s Capt. Al Nathan Memorial Scholarship. The focus of Krystyna’s graduate research explores the effects contributing to wood-boring isopod damage in red mangrove forests. These marine isopods excavate tunnels into mangrove aerial roots as habitat and for protection, but essentially damage the root in the process. “Thanks to this scholarship I will be able to purchase the necessary equipment to complete my field survey and isopod feeding experiment for my Master’s thesis. The field survey is being conducted to determine a baseline establishment of areas affected and not affected by wood-boring isopod damage,” said Powell. The PBCFF has been awarding a scholarship in memory of Captain Al Nathan to FAU graduate students since 2003. The late Capt. Al Nathan was a local charter skipper, past lifetime member of the West Palm Beach Fishing Club and a strong advocate of the club’s historic preservation efforts and marine biology scholarships. To date, the PBCFF has presented over $34,000 in scholarship awards at FAU in his honor. Mangrove Researcher Awarded PBCFF Scholarship The PBCFF's Rods & Reels for Kids program continues to support area youth groups with tackle donations. Kids from the Village of Palm Springs were recent recipients. Krystyna Powell